Neptune, the open standards network for pre-trade indications in bond markets, today announced the formation of a new company, Neptune Networks Ltd, to run the utility. The board will be comprised of members of the banks and asset managers involved in the collaboration for the past eighteen months. Neptune recognises the importance of joint buy-side and sell-side governance in order to best meet the challenges in the industry.

 Stormshield, a subsidiary of Airbus Defence and Space and a key player in the cyber security market, and Gemalto ( are strengthening their technological relationship with the development of this technology capable of providing end-to-end security for the connection and data exchanges with mobile devices. This new development will allow users of tablets and smartphones to exchange email message securely and to protect their data on tablets on the move. 

Avanza has recruited its new CEO from the food industry. Johan Prom has a professional background at the Swedish food retailer ICA and as an advisor to a number of consumer companies, among other positions. “Now that Avanza is taking its next major step forward, Johan Prom is an obvious choice as CEO with his genuine experience with consumers, services and customer service,” says Sven Hagströmer, Chairman of the Board of Avanza. An exact date for Johan Prom to take over as CEO has not yet been determined.

Global financial services consultancy and capital market specialist Hatstand, a Synechron company, announces it hasestablished a strategic partnership with Sqreem, a pattern detection and predictive analysis software firm, to jointly provide solutions for use with financial crime.

The banking sector is currently polarised between two camps: established high-street banks and the new breed of startup ‘challenger’ banks that are turning the traditional banking model on its head. The challengers have made some inroads, creating a more competitive market to keep the larger, more established banks on their toes. But does the culture and business as usual (BAU) mentality of the established banks stifle their innovation, or can they be challengers themselves? 

Doing business through digital means is something that comes naturally to many people now. Indeed, it is becomingly increasingly difficult to envisage how we got by for so long before online banking, shopping and booking ever became possible. We live in an age where customers seem to want the flexibility to do business whenever and wherever they want, rather than being constrained by the need to be in a certain place at a certain time.